Ligue 2 – Familiar Faces Going Back to the Top Flight

By: Sam | May 25th, 2007

As the France Offside blogger, it is my duty to bring you predominantly news from Ligue 1 and Coupes, but also a semi-seasonal report on what’s brewing in Ligue 2. So, it being the end of the season, I’m going to bring you up to speed on who’s going up, who’s going down, who’s coming up, and who’s coming down.

Today was the final day for both the second division and the third, so there’s twelve clubs on the move to or from Ligue 2. Let’s start from the top.

Ligue 1 -> Ligue 2: Even though there’s still a round left in Ligue 1 to be played tomorrow, the three relegated clubs have long since been appointed, if not heavily suspected. The three are:
Nantes (20th): A crap season altogether, with a coach firing, Fabien Barthez coming and going, not unlike a hurricane, fan trouble, and dismal on-pitch performances as well. It’s a shame for such a storied club to go down like this.
Sedan (19th): They finished second in Ligue 2 last year, and never looked in their element this season. Brief moments of brilliants but a deserved and predictable relegation all the same.
Troyes (18th): Lucky not to be last by a long shot. Two years after coming up, they’re going back down to their natural environment, in which they’ll hopefully learn to become a better football club.

Ligue 2 -> Ligue 1: It came down to the wire for the last spot, but when it finished and Amiens were unfortunately doomed to stay put, I think that three very competent teams have made the jump.
Metz (1st): Relegated last a year ago after a lame-o season, they came back this time with a solid effort all year, in which they were in first place for 33 rounds. Don’t expect them to come back down anytime soon.
Caen (2nd): Relegated two years ago, and cruelly denied a return last season at the hands of Lorient, Yoann Gouffran and SM Caen finished runners-up after jostling for the third spot before Matchday 38.
Strasbourg (3rd): Also relegated just last year and led by the famous Jean-Pierre Papin, a return was inevitable for the eastern boys, thanks in part to best keeper Stéphane Cassard.

Ligue 2 -> National: Possibly even more exciting than the race at the top, with a handful of clubs on the brink, notably clubs such as Guingamp and Montpellier, but again, the best ones stayed up.
Tours (20th): By a long shot, these guys were out of place after their promotion last year. Nine point behind the penultimate club. ‘Nuff said.
Istres (19th): Relegated from Ligue 1 in decisive manner two years ago, they’re going even worse, five points behind third-last. And, they’ve got ass-ugly shirts.
Créteil (18th): Having had a fine season last time around, there was no such luck for the suburban Paris club, who lost their chance when they were beat by Guingamp on the road in the deciding game.

National -> Ligue 2: Of course, I have less to say about these fellas, but wouldn’t you know it, the three here have also moved around league-wise in the past couple of years.
Clermont (1st): Relegated from Ligue 2 last year, they were crowned champions by a margin, that of seven points, and this after 27 straight undefeated matches.
Boulogne (2nd): Franck Ribéry’s former club, after years of flirting with promotion, finally do so after a fine season that included thirteen home wins.
Angers (3rd): Two years after relegation from L2, guess who’s coming back up? That’s right, it’s ASCO, who finished with the least goals against in the league and five points better than fourth place, Laval.

That would be that for now, folks. I’ll probably talk more in depth about this later on.